Ode to a Black Man

If you see Stevie Wonder tell him I hear
If you hear Stevie Wonder tell him I see
I don't want no songs for plants
I want songs for me

I don't want no songs for plants
I want liberty living in the city
If you see the doctor tell him he's king, Dr. Martin Luther
If you see the doctor tell him he's still king, you too Muhammed Ali

But this bad black boy won't be blown away by anything
Yes this bad black boy won't be blown away by anything
There are people in this town
That try to put me down

They say I don't give a damn
But the people in this town
That try to put me down
Are the people in the town

That could never understand a black man
Don't take it no more
Don't take it no more
Don't take it no more

There are people in the town
That try to put me down
They say I don't give a damn, damn
But the people in the town that try to put me down

Are the people in the town that could never understand a black man
Don't take it no more
If you see Robert Johnson, you too Robert Marley, Robert Mugabe
Now tell him I hear

If you see Malcom tell him I'm next, vexed
If you see Jimi, Jimi Hendrix
If you see my brothers tell them it's clear
I've been living on the wrong side

Now I hear
Don't take it no more
I don't take it no more
Mr. Joshua Nkomo

Don't take it no more
Jomo Kenyatta, oh no
Don't take it no more
Haile Selassi, Rastafarian

Don't take it no more
Professor Longhair
Don't take it no more